Unlocking Coffee Meets Bagel Success: CMB Hacks & Tips
Online dating is akin to a game, with its own set of winners and losers. To secure victory, you must familiarize yourself with the game’s rules and leverage them to your advantage. While this may seem easier said than done, this guide is designed to walk you through the essential strategies needed to achieve Coffee Meets Bagel Success (CMB) and thrive on all dating platforms. The arena may vary, but the fundamental game remains unchanged.
Let’s go over some effective Coffee Meets Bagel hacks to help you attract more matches and dates.
Table of Contents
Unlocking Coffee Meets Bagel Success: How to Find It

Introduction to CMB’s uniqueness:
While CMB follows the same general structure as numerous other dating sites, there are several nuances and alterations to the basic formula that make this site unique – and extremely challenging – for newcomers to find their feet. It is important to understand these changes, especially considering the diverse and dynamic nature of the user base, in order to properly manage your expectations and ultimately find success.
Ultimately though, you will find that a lot of what works on Tinder also works on Coffee Meets Bagel, with only a few caveats to impede your progress. Brushing up your conversational skills and giving a bit of additional flavor and color to your profile can go a long way.
Background and establishment of CMB’s unique approach:
CMB, with the Kang sisters, established their unique approach after the app’s launch in April 2012 and later, their appearance on ABC’s “Shark Tank” in January 2015. During their appearance, they did not make a deal with any of the sharks, notably turning down Mark Cuban’s hypothetical offer of $30 million to buy the entire company.
Despite not securing a deal, this strategic decision reflects their commitment to the unique vision and approach of Coffee Meets Bagel, emphasizing the value they place on the platform’s distinct features and user experience. This approach allows women to shape their experience, distinguishing CMB from many other dating apps.
Coffee Meets Bagel Review: How Does CMB Work?

“Bagels” is another term for the other users that you will encounter on the site (in this case, you are the Coffee). As a male user, you will be presented with 21 Bagels every day at noon. Like Tinder, you can either “pass” or “like” a profile, and if that user likes your profile in return, you are matched and are free to start messaging each other.
The catch is that the user on the receiving end of your like only has 24 hours to like your profile back. It gets even more interesting: while male users always receive 21 matches, or “Bagels” at noon every day, female users can only see users who have already liked them.
Discover what to do if you’re not getting likes for your CMB profile.
This is how CMB shifts the balance of power in favor of women. It forces male users to make the first move and lets female users properly gauge their options before making the decision to either swipe left or right, aligning with the diverse preferences of the user base. This approach is part of the Coffee Meets Bagel algorithm, designed to provide a more balanced and enjoyable dating experience.
Furthermore, Coffee Meets Bagel offers a unique feature called “Beans,” including free beans. Coffee beans are a form of in-app currency that can be earned or purchased, allowing users to tailor their experience based on their preferences. You can use coffee beans to access additional features, such as unlocking extra bagels, sending extra likes, and reopening or extending chats.
For added security and verification, Coffee Meets Bagel allows users to connect their Facebook profiles, enhancing the authenticity of the user base. Integrating your Facebook account can provide additional insights into your interests and activities, contributing to a more comprehensive and meaningful matching process.
While the basic features are available for free, Coffee Meets Bagel also offers an upgrade to a premium membership, providing users with enhanced functionalities and additional benefits. This subscription-based premium feature can offer perks such as increased visibility, access to advanced filters, more daily Bagels, detailed activity reports, and an enriched overall user experience.
In addition to the standard matching system, Coffee Meets Bagel includes a “Discover” section, where users can explore additional profiles outside of their daily Bagels. This feature allows for a more expansive browsing experience, providing users with the opportunity to discover potential matches beyond their curated selections. The “Discover” section is often denoted by a distinct icon, making it easily accessible for users looking to broaden their dating horizons.
For instance, you can use coffee beans, including free beans, to take advantage of features like the “Woos” and “Open Sesame,” which can boost your profile’s visibility and increase your chances of connecting with other users based on your preferences.
It may seem unfair towards male users – and mechanically speaking – it is. However, there are certain privileges that male users can enjoy that female users cannot, aligning with individual preferences and enhancing the overall user experience.
Fortunately, the CMB algorithm is complex and will usually present you with profiles that you have a good chance of being compatible with. To boost your Coffee Meets Bagel success, consider exploring creative ways to make the most of your Beans, tailoring your approach to match your preferences, and considering an upgrade to premium features.
Just like other dating apps, such as Hinge and Bumble, you can download the Coffee Meets Bagel app from the Google Play Store if you have an Android device or from the Apple App Store for iOS users.
Getting the Most Out of Coffee Meets Bagel

While the challenge of finding any degree of Coffee Meets Bagel success can seem daunting, it is important to remember that it is not insurmountable. By following these steps, we guarantee that you will find more matches than ever before.
Choose the Right Photos
It is no secret that looks play a major role when it comes to online dating. To be clear, it is not actually how handsome or pretty you think you are – it is how you present yourself.
In order to spruce up your Coffee Meets Bagel profile and enhance your selection of photos, we recommend that you start by getting rid of any selfies, which tend to be unflattering and give potential matches the wrong impression. Find photos of you doing things you love, whether it be rock climbing or reading a book. A smile goes a long way as well, so try to save the moody pictures for later.
Avoid using group photos. These can be confusing for potential matches, which decreases the likelihood of them matching with you. Also, shirtless photos are not as appealing as you may have believed – get rid of them as soon as possible.
In general, you should aim for a well-rounded selection of photos, at least some of which should feature you smiling. Focus on capturing moments of you enjoying yourself, and include them in your profile. Additionally, people will be much more inclined to like you if you have a cute pet to show off.
Here are some examples of great photos that could be used in a Coffee Meets Bagel profile:

The girl has an infectious smile as she sits with a unique hilly background behind her.

The lady in the photo above has great composition and natural lighting.

This girl above shows off her amazing smile and great fashion sense with her stylish scarf.

The man in the photo above is dressed sharply and has a relaxed pose.
Create a Compelling Coffee Meets Bagel Profile & Bio
There is a reason that your Coffee Meets Bagel profile provides you with so much space within which to write your bio. You should make it as comprehensive as possible (without giving everything away, of course). List your hobbies and interests, write down where you stay and where you work, and be honest about what type of person you are.
Additionally, it does not hurt to tell a joke or two. Keep the tone of your bio fairly light-hearted, and do not be afraid to be a little self-deprecating or humorous.
You should try to strike a balance between the factual and the esoteric in your Coffee Meets Bagel profile. For every fact about yourself that you include (such as your height, or your place of work) be sure to add in things that are not as surface-level. If, for example, you choose to include your job, mention a few things that you like (or dislike) about your line of work. Anyone can have the same height or the same job as you – it is your individual thoughts and feelings that matter.
Explore Coffee Meets Bagel prompts answers to enhance your profile and create a well-rounded, engaging representation of yourself. These prompts provide a great opportunity to showcase your personality and stand out from the crowd. When crafting your CMB responses, consider sharing anecdotes, insights, or unique experiences that offer a glimpse into your character.
The key is to use these coffee meets bagel prompts to express your personality, values, and interests. Tailor your responses to showcase what makes you unique and to spark interesting conversations with potential matches. You can always update your prompts at any time, so always check the current prompts on the app for the most accurate information.

The Coffee Meets Bagel profile example above is solid and provides plenty of information for prospects.
Does Coffee Meets Bagel have fake profiles? Find out!
Boost Your Texting Confidence
Eventually, you will find a match, and the chat window will open up. You have 7 days to get to know each other and set up a date before the chat window closes.
In order to make the most of this limited time frame, it is important to be as confident as possible while texting. One of the easiest ways to get your match to engage with you is to start with a question. In order to get them talking, ask them about one of their hobbies, or any other aspect of their profile that interests you. Then ask them out when the time is right.
No matter what you do, it is important that you start strong. For example, if opening up the conversation with a question, you could ask them what their favorite genre of music is. Or if you are more of a direct, straight-for-the-jugular kind of guy, open up with a good pick-up line, for example: “Hey, it’s cold out here, and I’ve lost my ear-muffs. Mind if I use your thighs?”
The second approach is definitely riskier, but if you are confident enough, do not be afraid to go down this route.
Additionally, you will want to keep things light-hearted to start. Do not be afraid to use emojis. Plenty of users appreciate them, so sprinkling your texts with a few smiley faces cannot hurt. Laughing emojis can demonstrate your good humor, just make sure that you use them appropriately. Coffee Meets Bagel also provides read receipts, so you can see if your messages have been seen, adding an extra layer of insight into the communication dynamics.
Keep in mind the possibility of encountering challenges like getting ghosted, but staying positive and genuine in your approach can increase your chances of building meaningful connections.
Coffee Meets Bagel Beans Hack

Some users have even discovered clever “coffee meets bagel beans hack” methods to maximize their Bean earnings and utilize them effectively.
Here’s a Coffee Meets Bagel hack to earn coffee beans more easily:
- Revisit your liked bagels and initiate a ‘Give & Take’ with those you currently fancy.
- Cleverly “Give” them to yourself or a friend via email.
- For every bagel your friend opens, you rake in a cool 100 beans.
- Rinse and repeat the Give & Take process until you amass the desired bean count.
- You can freely swap bagels back and forth, either with friends or yourself, all at the cost of a mere 10-15 minutes of your daily time.
While the routine might be a tad cumbersome, you can up the ante by liking the same bagels twice, leveraging two different profiles with two smartphones. If you’ve got a friend in on the plan, they get some extra bagels too, creating a win-win situation.
This method offers a hassle-free way to stockpile lots of beans, snagging up to 10-15 extra bagels for free from your friend or alternate phone. Plus, you can score an additional 10-15 free bagels from your own “Give & Take” without spending a single bean.
Here are some additional hacks to earn more beans:
- Invite Your Friends and Family:
- Encourage your friends to join Coffee Meets Bagel and watch the beans roll in.
- Levarage Social Media:
- Boost your beans by following CMB on social media.
- Sign In Daily:
- Sign in every day during your first week for a steady supply of free beans.
CMB Ice-Breaking Ideas: Start Conversations with Confidence

Breaking the ice can be incredibly daunting; it sets the tone for the entire conversation, and can easily make or break a relationship before it even begins. Luckily, you can circumvent this problem by relying on these tried-and-tested methods of opening up a conversation.
Ask Interesting Questions
Ask anything. As long as it’s interesting. It could be something totally mundane and simple, but it will kickstart the conversation because it forces the other person to engage with you. Just make sure that you have an idea of where you want the conversation to go. For example, you could ask your match what their favorite band is, then input your own thoughts and opinions afterward. A question like this can lead to some great conversations, so be sure to ask it.
Try to tailor your Coffee Meets Bagel questions to the person you are speaking to. A good rule of thumb is to browse their CMB profile and ask questions related to certain aspects. If they like a particular band, ask them why they like that band. This personalized approach is a valuable Coffee Meets Bagel hack.
Remember the five W’s: who, what, when, where, why; and the one H: how? Questions that start with these can be pretty open-ended, giving your match a variety of ways in which to respond. And finally, ask them for their number.

Find out what to do if you’re not getting replies on Coffee Meets Bagel.
Make a Joke
People like funny guys, so do not be afraid to show off your comedic chops. Whether it is a clever pun on your match’s name, or a cheeky comment about something in their profile, opening with a joke is one of the best ways to get someone engaged.

Some of these jokes only work once, but this one never fails. The odd-ball nature of it tends to catch people off-guard, leaving them totally disarmed by your wit. Use this to your advantage.
Be Forward… Sometimes
You only have 7 days to seal the deal on CMB, so sometimes it is worth it to go straight for the proverbial jugular. If your match seems like the bold and confident type, then do not be afraid to make your intentions clear right from the word go. In general, it is always best to get their details within 3 days anyway, because a lot can change within the space of a week.
Focus on building up a rapport as quickly as possible. Just because it has “online” tagged onto it does not mean this is not dating. The goal is to get a date. Keep that in mind, and do not spend too much time beating around the bush.

Conversation starters like this do not always pan out. But the right mix of personalities will let it work. Eventually, you will develop a sort of sixth sense about which users will respond well to certain approaches.
Final Thoughts
Coffee Meets Bagel presents some unique challenges to new users – particularly men – but they can and will be overcome with enough effort and dedication. Online dating will never be a cakewalk, but hopefully, this guide has made it a bit easier.
Feel free to check out our dating profile writing service to ensure that your dating profile is perfect, or our text messaging or conversation coaching to ensure that your conversations go the way you want them to.